Boiler-washing system



F. s. WICHMAN BOILER WASHING SYSTEM Nbv. 29, 1927. 1,651,010

Filed Sept, 12. 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 29, 1927.

1,651,010 F. s. YWICHMAN BOILER WASHING SYSTEII Filed Sept. 12, 1919 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [ru al/(7'1 JFmM 5 Mailman,

Nov. 29, 1927. j 1,651010 F. s. WICHMAN BOILER WASHING SYSTEI Filed Sept. 12, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 fave/275;: jinn/r .5 Wis/Imam Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

warren STATES 1,651,010 PATENT OFFICE,

FRANK S. WICHMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO LOCOMOTIVE TERMINAL IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE,

I BOILER-TAOHINC: SYSTEM.

Application filed September 12, 1919. Serial No. 323,445.

This invention relates to a system of apparatus for use in washing out boilers, such, for instance, as boilers of steam locomotives, according to which the water and steam blown oil from a boiler, in advance of the steps of washing out the boiler, and refilling it with clean warm water are, for the sake of economy, collected and separated into clean water, wash water, and sediment.

Among the objects of the present invention are to increase the proportion of the blown off water, which is vaporized and condensed and added to the clean water in the refilling tank of such a system; to eliminate the vibration and noise incident to the method heretofore followed of discharging the steam directly into the filling tank; to decrease the time of blowing off, and to provide a condenser in a boiler washing system, of the multiple unit type, which will economically condense volatiles of a minor volume entering the condenser more or less constantly, for instance, the exhaust from steam actuated elements of the apparatus, and which will automatically act with a larger condensing capacity, whenever an eX- cc s've volume of volatiles accumulates in the condenser, for instance, the volatiles resulting from the blowing-off of a boiler.

Accordingly, one feature of the invention consists in providing the system with a condenser embodying two condensing elements, namely, a first condensing element which is normally active and of sufiicient capacity to condense a minor volume of volatiles de' livered more or less constantly to the condenser and a second condensing element which is normally inactive and of a capacity which adapts it to condense a major volume of volatiles accumulating in the condenser in excess of the capacity of the first condensing element, at irregular intervals; and thermostatic means adapted to actuate the second condensing element and so located that it is subject to the heating effect of volatiles accumulating within the condenser in excess of the capacity of the first condensing element, the said condenser being preferably adapted to maintain, on the vapor outlet of the separator, by eificient condensation, a negative pressure or partial vacuum that will appreciably increase the amount of steam or vapor that Wlll rise from the hot blow off water delivered to the sepatiles accumulate when in excess of'the capacity of the first condensing element.

Further features of the present invention "relate to details in the construction and arrangement of the apparatus whereby the object of the invention as above outlined may be more fully realized.

The invention will be fully understood upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating a boiler washing system in which the several -features of the present invention are embodied.

Figures 2 and 3 are, respectively, a top plan view'and a side elevation of the apparatus immediately concerned with the condensing unit of the system, and a portion of the filling tank associated therewith.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the auxiliary condenser. p V

Figure at is a vertical sectional view of the condenser shown in Figures 2 and 3; and

Figures 5 and 6 are, respectively, atop plan view and a vertical section of the fillin tank having combined therewith a modified construction of condenser; the latter being shown partly in vertical section in Fig. 6.

Referring to Figure 1, A, B, and C are, respectively, the blowolf line, the washout line, and the filling line of a'boiler washing system, which lines are usually of such length as to be adapted to supply the drop pipe connections, such as A B and G at each or" a number of stations conveniently arranged for coupling up with a locomotive boiler. Pipe A leads to a separator D, which is adapt-ed to subdivide blowofil water delivered thereto into steam or vapor, which it delivers from its upper end through a pipe D to a condenser E; washout water which it delivers through an overflow pipe 1) leading from an intermediate level of the separator to the washout tank F; and sludge or precipitate which it delivers through a pipe D leading from its bottom to a sewer.

Washout pipe B communicates with pump G which takes water through the pipe G from the washout tank F and supplies it to said pipe B under pressure, the usual pump governor (not shown) being preferably employed to insure av constant head, and any suitable form of thermostatic valve G being also provided to temper the washout water delivered by the pump. Washout line B may be connected by a return pipe or circulating line b with the tank F 1n the manner and for the purpose well known in systems of this kind.

Filling line or pipe C leads from the pump H, which takes water through pipe H from the filling tank I and delivers it to said pipe C under a constant head, the usual pump governor (not shown) for controlling the pply of steam, and therefore the delivery of the pump, being preferably employed. A return or circulating line 0 from the filling line C maintains circulation filling tank for re-use.

When a locomotive is connected, as by a hose or other flexible connection, with the drop-pipe it of the blowoff line and its contained water and steam are delivered, under the head of pressure in the boiler, through the pipe A. to the separator D, the water entering the separator accumulates until it overflows through the pipe D and enters the washout tank I the sludge, precipitate, or refuse settles on the bottom of the separator; and the steam or vapor rises to the upper portion thereof, and is conducted toward the filling tank by the pipe D According to the present'invention, this steam or vapor does not pass directly to the filling tank but passes to a spray condenser E where it is -condensed, raising the temperature of the spray water, and passing as water of condensation along with the spray Water to the filling tank. By such condensation a reduction of pressure is induced over the surface of the water in the separator and the evaporation therefrom greatly increased. A suitable condensing apparatus for this purpose may consist of a condensing chamber E having a spray nozzle E supplied by branch P of cold water pipe P and a delivery pipe E communicating'with the filling tank I.

Said pipe E dips'into tank I a distance sufficient to keep its lower end sealed, so that as condensation takes place in the chamber E, a subpressure or partial vacuum will be developed in the discharge pipe I) from the separator D, and the water of the spray together with water of condensation will pass into the filling tank. One important advantage realized from this arrange: lent resides in the material increase in the number of heat units transferred from the blown-off Water to the water of the filling tank, and consequent economizing in the expense of keeping up the temperature of the'filling water.

In order that the time during which condenser Water is delivered through spraynozzle E may be automatically regulated to correspond to the flow of steam or vapor from the separator, the lower portion of the condenser chamber E is provided with a thermostat bulb E and this is made to control a valve E located in the branch P of the Water supply pipe P and adapted to be set so that whenever steam is present-in the condensing chamber IE, the heat therefrom, acting through the thermostat bulb E will open the valve E and deliver water to the spray-nozzle E Inasmuch as there is normally a small quantity of steam ex iausting from the apparatus forming part of the system, for instance, the pumping engine or engines when they are merely keeping up circulation in the filling line or washout line, or both, and it is desirable to'save the water therefrom as well as the heat units stored therein, but without puting into operation the main condensing sp *ay, the return flow water of one or both of the lines is utilized for condensing such exhaust steam. This may be accomplished by discharging such return flow in the form of an auxiliary spray, and in the presence of such exhaust steam, and then passing the resultant water to the filling tank. According to one method of realizing this, an auxiliary condenser is provided in the form of an elongated spraying chamber E which receives exhaust steam from the pun'ips through the exhaust pipe K and discharges through pipe E" into filling tank I.

from one or both of the pumps Gand H" when they are merely maintaining circulation in the pipes B and C. But if when one or more locomotives are being Washed out or refilled, one orbo'th of said pumps is automatically accelerated to'maintain the supply 0]": water in the feed line B or C, the exhaust steam from the nurnn should b increased to a volume beyond the capacity of the auxiliarycondenser, the steam passes beyond its auxiliary condenser into the main condenser and acts thermosatically upon valve E. Similarly, when locomotives are blowing off, and steam and vapor flow through cross-over pipe D the main condenserE will'be automatically called into action by the heating efi'ect of the steam upon the thermostat E Exhaust pipe K while shown leading from pumps. G and H, which form parts of the system, may be regarded as typical of a supply of waste steam from any apparatus.

The feature of a normally acting reduced capacity condensation device coupled with an automatically introduced condenser of abnormal capacity is not limited, in its-application, to the use of separate condensing chambers, or a large and a small condensing space. On the contrary, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, spraying water from the re turn or circulating pipe 0 may be delivered into the same chamber as the spray of larger capacity; for instance, the chamber provided ber E and the extension E induces a flow of water from tank 1 into the extension E and this, mixing with the steam and vapor therein, increases the condensation effect therein. It, at any time, the volume of steam arriving through pipes D D is greater than can be condensed by the spray of the circulating pipe 0, thethermal effect upon the thermostat bulb IE will immediately'release water from the valve E and in crease the volume of the spray, with the result that complete condensation will be efiected. Condensation occurring in chamber E, as in chamber E, develops sub-pressure in the cross-over pipe D from the separator, and thereby raises evaporation in the separator.

It is not the purpose to limit the scope of this invention to a boiler washing system having a condenser of dual capacity normally operating under its reduced or auxiliary capacity, but automatically changing to its main or full capacity under the influence of an increased volume of steam or vapor. On the contrary in the embodiment mained small, would be opening and closing constantly at short intervals by the alter nate accumulation of steam and the condensation thereof. But with the auxiliary condensing medium the small volume of steam delivered isjconstantly cared for by the condition of a constant discharge from the circulating pipe, and the main condenser is left normally out of action until, but ready for instant action when, an abnormal quantity of steam arrives, and promptly retires from action as soon as the excessive volume of steam has-been condensed.

A drainage pipe E connects the bottom of the condenser chamber E with the tank I, and sQ'keeps the water in the chamber E below the thermostat bulb E and leaves the latter exposed to the action of the steam entering the chamber. But as long as the main spray E is acting, chamber E will fill to the overflow pipe E and keep the pipe E sealed, thereby maintaining in chamber E vacuum necessary to increase evaporation in separator D.

Some of the important advantages arising from the use of two independently acting condensing elements of relatively large and small capacity, operating under conditions and arranged as herein described, are that condensing action, and water consumption incident thereto may be largely regu latedin time and quantity according to the demand for condensation; each condenser can be made to operate under the particular normal conditions for which it is intended; and in case of an overload of the small condenser, set for normal action of low capacity, the main condenser will be automatically called into effect. For example, on the one hand we have the small, auxiliary condenser as a constantly acting condenser that uses water of circulation returning to the tank and keeps up the temperature thereof by the use of steam exhausted from the pumping engines, and therefore operates without additional expense for either water or steam.

It can be adjusted for normal maximum capacity of action because when the pumps are more active, as when meeting heavy washout and filling water consumption at the drops, the surplus exhaust of steam can flow over into the main condenser and, by its temperature, call into action the main condensing spray. Onthe other hand, we have the main condenser normally inactive,

but automatically responsive to a blow OE, and also to the aforesaid surplus of steam in the auxiliary condenser. c

I claim:

1. In a boiler washing system, a storage tank, a line of communication adapted to receive steam and vapor and deliver the same to said storage tank, and a condenser interposed in said line of. communication; said condenser comprising means for delivering sprays of relatively small and large capacity; a valve for controlling the means for delivering the large spray and a thermostatic governor for said valve which is subject to temperature effect of steam or vapor accumulating in the region in which the spray of large capacity acts. 7

2. In a boiler washing system, a line of :ommunication adapted to receive and deliver blow-oft products from a boiler, condensing apparatus having connections through which it receives volatiles delivered by said line of communication, said condensing apparatus including a first condensing element which is of minor capacity and a second condensing element which is normally inactive and of major capacity, and thermostatic means controlling the second, condensing element; said thermostatic means being located within the condenser, at apoint that is reached by the volatiles only when in volume in excess of the capacity of the first condensing element.

3. In a boilerwashing system, a line of communication adapted. to receive and deliver blow-oft products from a boiler, a condenser having connections through which it receives volatiles delivered by said line of communication, said condenser includinga first condensing element of a minor capacity and normally active and a second condensing element of major capacity and normally inactive, and a thermostatic elementcontrolling said second condensing element; said thermostatic element being located in the condenser at a point remote from the first condensing element and out of reach of volatiles accumulating in the condenser in a volume within the capacity of said first condensing element.

4. In a boiler washing system, a container for water of condensation, and a condenser adapted to discharge into said container; said condenser discharging below the water line in said container and having a normally submerged injector inducing mingling of water of the container with the precipitate of the condenser.

5. In a boiler washing system, a separator, a container for water of condensation, and a spray condenser interposed between sa d separator and container; said condenser disa container for water of condensation, and a condenser interposed between said separator and container; said condenser. comprising main and auxiliary spray-jets and a chamber receiving the spray from both said jets and discharging below the Water line in said container and having a submerged injector inducing mingling of water of the container with the precipitate of the condenser.

7. In a boiler washing system,a separator,

a container for water of condensation, and a condenser interposed between said separator and container; said condenser comprising main and auxiliary spray-jets and a cham ber receiving sprays from both said jets and discharging below the water line in Said container and having a submerged injector inducing mingling of water of the container with the precipitate of the condenser; said condenser having in its discharge end a thermostat controlling the main spray-jet.

8. In a boiler washing system, a blow-ofi' pipe,.a condenser receiving volatiles from said blow-off pipe, said condenser including a normally inactive condensing element supplying condensing water s'uflicient to condense said volatiles, means in said condenser responsive to the heat of said volatiles, adapted to release water through said condensing element, a water supply pipe adapted to deliver water of condensation provided by said condenser, a steam pump adapted to feed said water supply pipe, a return flow line returning water from said supply pipe, said condenser also including a condensing element of minor capacity supplied with water by said return flow line, and means delivering exhaust steam from the pump into the condenser and in condensing relation to said condensing element of minor capacity; said condenser being constructed to subject an excess volume of exhaust steam to the condensing element first named. Signed at Chicago, of September, 1919.

FRANK s. ,WIOHM'LAN.

Illinois, this 4th 7 day 

